Minty_76 Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 Just found Mini Meadows on the web and they look good. It'a about an hours drive from me as I can't seem to find any chicken breeders in Nottinghamshire. I didn't want to drive all the way there to find out its not what I thought. I see they have bantams there Wyandotte and Orpingtons as they are what I am narrowing it down to. I'm hoping they are vaccinated and not too expensive Saying that I still haven't got a place for them to live but hey ho no harm in doing my research! Has anyone been there and purchased? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 Me! We got 3 pekin bantams about a month ago. The owner is a great guy and the farm is really well maintained, all the birds were very well cared for and living in a nice enviroment. i would call him first as i know he is very popular. Would def recommend his birds, my pekins are beautiful, healthy and have started laying every day now. i paid 30.00 each bird which is enough but i knew they were well looked after and they came with a guarentee . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty_76 Posted May 26, 2011 Author Share Posted May 26, 2011 Ooh thats good news. Was thinking about Pekins too as a possibility- what are they like? Only got a small garden and a toddler and close neighbours so are they noisy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 Hi, personally i think they might suit your needs perfectly. We have big hens living in a big wir, so the pekins live in an eglu with part of the garden sectioned off with omlet netting. They make alot less damage to the garden than big girls, they are quite small( about half the size) so are well suited to a smaller garden. They are friendly little things(given time) and mine have managed to put up with my 3 children(4,3 &1)so i think your toddler will be fine! The eggs are a bit smaller and people say they tend to go broody, mine are too young as yet so time will tell! Mine are no more noisey than my big hens and as they are so dinky when they do make a noise its alot quieter! Hope this helps, i have to say although i love all my girls the pekins are pretty special! Let us know what you decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 That's pretty expensive for pekins £15-25 would be the norm Most pure bred birds aren't vaccinated but don't let that put you off just be sure you are 100% happy with the environment they are coming from and you'll get off to a good start I wouldn't normally advocate buying from a sale but the Rare Breeds Survival Trust is having a poultry sale in Brackley in June, the birds aren't all rare breeds but the choice and quality is normally pretty good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 My Pekin and orp bantam came from there and are vaccinated. No problems with them at all. The orp is small compared with show birds I've seen elsewhere. Would recommend Minimeadows to you . My Coral Nick hybrid came from there as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 I reccomend http://www.pagespoultry.co.uk/ brilliant birds, near burton on trent, she has a bit of everything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty_76 Posted May 27, 2011 Author Share Posted May 27, 2011 Thanks all. I think I should maybe have a look there as I'm still not sure which breeds would be best for me. Half say hybrid half say bantam! Confusing (but enjoying looking at all the breeds though)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pekin Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 Mini Meadows do buy birds in to resell, I know this because they bought a few from someone I know last year and were not totally honest about it. we later found out who they were by accident. I also think that £30 is steep for a pet quality bird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 Quite a few of these places that sell a lot of breeds buy at least some in - not a terrible thing on the face of it but two changes of home in quick sucession isnt good for a chook and also its history is unknown Also many places buy in hatching eggs often at auctions and believing what was sold to them they sell on the chicks are pure, one very well known seller in the North West has recently done just that but came unstuck when the chicks turned out not to be the breed specified Buying from a retailer is absolutely fine but you should expect someone who sells as a breeder to be the breeder so do ask to see parent stock and seek assurance of quality if paying top prices Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 I only just saw this thread after posting on another one, so a bit late in responding. We bought 4 pure breeds from Mini Meadows last September. All were about 14wks old. From what I recall we were quoted £30 each before we bought them as we had only planned on getting 2, but when my OH went to pick them up he decided to get 4 and was charged £100 for them. I have to say they are all seem to be very good quality hens, but then I'm no expert. However I am a bit worried to read that they buy hens in as you are given the impression that all the hens for sale have been bred there. Does tend to make you think twice I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Perhaps the ones bought in were to breed from rather than sell on He does hatch a lot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
